Active senior resident, Margaret Speir, moved to Christian City in 1982

October 2020, Senior Living Newsletter

www.christiancity.org

Margaret Speir was a petite, kindhearted, quiet woman with a sweet smile who loved flowers and gardening. She moved to her life-lease patio home at Christian City in 1982 when her Harper Valley neighborhood was brand new. At that time, she was 65 years young, but had been a widow for more than two decades. When Margaret’s husband died from a heart attack at age 42, the youngest of their three daughters was just nine years old. A stay-at-home mom before her husband passed away, Margaret took a job in the school lunchroom and later worked for a department store in Decatur to support her family. When asked how she raised three children on her own, Margaret gave all glory to the Lord. “God helped me,” she always said. Margaret Walker Speir passed away at Southwest Christian Care Hospice on September 10. She celebrated her 103rd birthday on February 18, 2020. She was preceded in death by her oldest daughter, Nancy Mauldin. Her two daughters, Carolyn Beal and Susan Davis, wrote the following tribute to their mother.

How do you put into words what motivated a woman, born in 1917, to be an incredibly strong individual?

Perhaps it was the hard times, the depression, her father’s death, and the war. For her family, giving up was not an option. If something seemed impossible, you found a way around it. You kept moving forward.

Mother was a strong individual. She never sat down and folded her hands and said, “I can’t do this.” She always had the attitude that with God’s help, she could get through this, and she did.

She stayed active – walking, gardening and working out at the fitness center. She loved living in her patio home at Christian City.

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Margaret Speir is all smiles at her 99th birthday party hosted by her Harper Valley neighbors in 2016.

Margaret is pictured at her 100th birthday celebration in February 2017.

The Bryants hosted Margaret’s 99th birthday celebration at their Harper Valley home.

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Count Me In . . . in a Pandemic!!It is going to look a little different this year, but I think you will love it!! The way we live has changed, but our love for each other and our commitment to Christian City’s mission is unchanged.

While the financial impact of the pandemic has been a little different for everyone, Christian City has seen a decrease in giving from many of our donors. As always, our goal for the Count Me In campaign is focused on participation, not the amount of a gift.

Our Team Captains have chosen to focus our support on the Children & Family programs, specifically enhancing the room used to train our house parents and other staff, host meetings with DFCS, host visitation sessions for families working to reunite with their child, provide training for new and prospective foster families, and for future trainings related to Safe Place. It is an important space, but it isn’t yet equipped to do all that it needs to be able to do. Through Count Me In, we can change that!

I look forward to returning to normal and gatherings. Until then, we will gather collectively apart. All donors of any amount will be invited to the 1950’s themed Count Me In Drive-In Movie on Friday, November 6, on our campus! The Team Captains will choose and announce the movie soon, but know it will relate to the decade of the 1950’s. Team Captains will have donation forms for you to make your donation and receive your ticket to the movies! Start thinking now about what you’ll wear - 1950’s style, of course.

Sincerely, LaVann Landrum, Chief Development Officer llandrum@christiancity.org•770703-2632

P.S. Be on the lookout for your letter from Kristie which will include more details about this year’s funding project – a refurbished training room that will have impact on our ability to serve children and families through the Children’s Village Residential Program, Crossroads Foster & Adoption Program, and Safe Place Runaway and Homeless Youth Program.

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GRACELAND’S ANNUALFALL FESTIVAL

Saturday, November 7, 2020, from 9:00 am - 3:30 pmParking will be on the grassy area next to Graceland.

Store Hours:Tues, Thurs, & Sat, 9:30am - 4:00pmDonations:Tuesday - Saturday,9:30am - 1:30pmGoodie House is open to Christian City residents Tues & Thurs, 10:30am - 12:30 pm

770-629-7718

Covid Testingoctober 7 & 8

To ease some of the issues experienced during testing in the past, FCBOH mobile unit sites now provide the opportunity for test- takers to schedule appointments for testing. All individuals interested in being tested are strongly encouraged to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the testing site. Interested persons can either: • visitGDPHwebsitehttps://covid19.dph.ga.gov/or • calltheFultonCountyCOVID-19hotlineat404-613-8150tocompletetheonlineregistrationandscheduleanappointment.

Please note that your location will be included in the list of available testing sites on the GDPH website on the Thursday of the week prior to your testing date. There will be limited slots for unscheduled walk-ups to get tested.

Supporting Christian City Children & Family Programs7425 Red Oak Rd., Union City, GA 30291

We will be opening up our amazing“CHRiSTMAS SHoP”

We will have food for sale: Hot dogs, Fries, Chips, and drinks!

Also, baked goods from theChildren’s village.

And great sales throughout the store.

Oct7-in the car park at John Sparks Manor (outside the Community Garden)7350LesterRd.,UnionCity,GA

Oct8 - in the car park at GeneMillerManor 7601 Lester Rd, Union City, GA

8am - 2:30pm(onlineappointmentsendat2pm)

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Staff of Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Continue Superhero Service during Covid

Pictured Below:Back Row, L-R: Alisha Whittler, Yvette Harper, Monifa Peters, LaPorche Lyles, Katia Mike, Arteca Manlove

Front Row, L-R: Janetta Knighton, Helen Brown, Katisha Cannonier,Kaddy Kunjo, Nancy Francois, Monica Willabus, donetta Hill

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Pictured at Left:Left to Right: Sarah Patterson, Marian Rucker, Sabrina Newson, Anithia Passmore, olivia Parks, Mamie Hudson, iboro Akpabio

“The staff has been excellent during our time of need. No Complaints.”

- Patricia Coody“They all have been indispensable. They have taken care of all my needs, and I appreciate all they do.”

- Willa Mae Heisler“All of the staff has been good.”

- Tommy Sleesman“They haven’t failed me. Have met all my needs, and are very pleasant when doing so..NO FROWNS AROUND HERE!”

- Martha Gordon

“Good! As a matter of fact Excellent during this time.”

- Mary Jasper

“It’s not just one thing. They have been wonderful. I feel safe with them taking care of us.”

- Betty Peurifoy

“I feel their willingness to be helpful.”

- Walter Sterky

Our dedicated, committed, unselfish, strong, giving, empathetic, faithful, caring, putting others first before themselves, exceeding the call of duty during difficult & challenging times, etc...H.E.R.O.s!!!!!!!

H=Healthcare WorkersE=ExceptionalR=RelentlessO=Outstanding

Continued from Cover:Margaret Speir, Active Resident

She kept her mind sharp by balancing her checkbook monthly, to the penny, and always had a Word Search book within easy reach.

She was knowledgeable about national and local news, politics and fashion. If she could get her hands on a newspaper, she would read it cover to cover.

She knew a smile could start a conversation without saying a word and greeted everyone with a smile. She’d welcome people to come sit and visit with her.

She always put the needs of her family and others before her own.

She knew how to say, “thank you!”

At the end, her body gave up and she knew it was time to go. She died peacefully in the loving care of Southwest Christian Care.

Margaret was dearly loved by her Harper Valley neighbors. Her next-door neighbor for the past 17 years, Gerri Draughn, retrieved Margaret’s mail and checked on her daily for the past year as she suffered from severe arthritis and became less mobile after several falls. “Her mind was sharp all the way to the

end. She never stopped. Margaret continued balancing her checkbook, cooking, and doing word search puzzles until the end,” Gerri said.

When her neighbors came together in 2016 to host a 99th birthday party at the Bryant home, Margaret was featured on the cover of Partyline. At that time, she recalled her childhood in nearby Mountain View where she walked with friends to the racetrack that once surrounded the Atlanta Airport, and took her first ride in the family’s new Model T.

Margaret continued to attend the neighborhood breakfasts and maintained a positive attitude even

though she was in pain. “In the end, Margaret said she was ready to go. That’s when she made the decision to move to Southwest Christian Care Hospice in mid-August. She prayed for the Lord to take her home,” Gerri said. “I will miss her, but I know she was ready to go,” said her neighbor and friend.

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Attention Veterans!Have you moved to Christian City in the past year or did you miss getting your picture taken last year for our Wall of Honor in the Recreation Center? We will be taking photos at the times shown below . Please contact Tyler at 770-703-2730 to schedule your time.

-Monday,October5thattheWelcomeCenterforActiveSeniorVeterans-Tuesday,October6thattheMountCarmelChapelforAssistedLivingand SkilledNursingVeterans-Wednesday,October7thattheMountCarmelChapel

Have your photo taken so we can honor you in this year’s Veterans Day celebrations!

Flu ShotClinic! Markyourcalendarsfor Tuesday, October6th,from10am to 4pm at the RecreationCenter.CVSwillbeonhandtoadministerflushots.For the flu shots you mustRSVPtoTylerat770-703-2730.Transportationwillrun on a continuous basis to and from the RecCenter.

ARTWALK!

Join us at the track bythe Recreation Center

on October 21stfrom 10-2pm.

Walk around thequarter-mile trackand enjoy artwork

by your fellowresidents. Masks

required.

To have your artwork featured in the show, please contact Tyler at 770-703-2730.

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If I were to pick several words that capture our setting and our experience today, one would be strife. A word we don’t use much; but oh, how we need to. Strife is defined as “angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues.” People in our nation, our communities, and even our families have never been more divided – unable to agree on much of anything, judging harshly those who have another position or perspective. Strife is alive and well, bringing separations, condemnations, bitterness, and division – even violence. It destroys unity, relationships, individuals and hearts; it contradicts love … such a great cost.

The book of Genesis gives an account of Abraham’s son, Isaac, who, with his family and belongings, settled in an area claimed by his father, where he dug a well. This well held precious fresh water. Herdsmen from the area (Gerar) quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen, claiming that the water was their own. So Isaac named the well, Esek, which meant “given to arguing, provoking.” Then Isaac dug another well with the same negative result. He named this well Sitnah, which meant “hatred; hostility.”

Strife has no place in the Lord’s church. Yet, even here strife has taken a hold – with terrible results. Like Isaac’s experience, the elements of arguing, provoking, hatred and hostility are present both around us, and for many, within. These days have seen an increase of strife within the fellowship of God’s people. The Scriptures are very clear concerning strife and the evil it perpetuates. It is attributed to sin. It is not a characteristic of a follower of Jesus.

Isaac “moved on” and dug a third well – he named it Rehoboth, saying, “Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.” That very night, the Lord spoke to Isaac with words of assurance to not be afraid and that He was with him and would bless him.

We must make sure that strife stays out of our experience – out of our heart. We cannot speak words of love and yet dwell in strife. Doing away with strife requires us to practice humility and acceptance; to resist passing our own judgments, as well as assuming that our insight/positions are certainly God’s own judgments. We also need to remember that love and acceptance have no requirement of stances or positions. We will not be able to influence the culture around us if we do not have those qualities within us.

The Lord gave us both His word and His example in how to treat each other. He gave us His Spirit to empower us to let go of strife. His plans for us are rich in unity, peace and love. God has given us “room to flourish” together in the same land. It is for us to openly identify the presence of strife in our relationships and in ourselves, to repent and receive God’s grace in it, and resolve to see others with His heart. As we do, we will also hear the message Isaac received from God – that we, too, need not be afraid; He will be with us - and bless us. Surely a well of cool, refreshing, restoring water... Carl

The Chaplain’s Corner

CarlRyden,ChaplainandSpiritualCareOfficer,maybereachedat770-703-2670orcarlr@pruitthealth.com.